“But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.”
Du’a of Praise and Righteousness
أَنْتَ وَلِيِّي فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ ۖ تَوَفَّنِي مُسْلِمًا وَأَلْحِقْنِي بِالصَّالِحِينَ
Anta waliyyee fid dunyaa wal Aakhirati tawaffanee muslimanw wa alhiqnee bissaaliheen
“You are my protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous.”
Key Takeaways
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Despite all that Yusuf (as) endured, he still found it in his heart to praise and exalt Allah (swt). He had every reason to feel distressed, yet he harbored no bitterness.
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The lesson we can glean is to always remain humble, embrace our responsibilities, and commit to our work. Do not harbor a sense of superiority. When you achieve success, thank Allah. Conversely, when facing failure, do not feel insecure or belittle yourself; instead, thank Allah, for things could always be worse.
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Many overlook the external factors that contribute to success—such as being born in the right place and time, having access to knowledge, and possessing the ability to learn and act. These are all gifts bestowed upon us by Allah (swt).
Yusuf (as)’s path was not an easy one, yet it was necessary to alleviate the suffering of those he helped.
We learn of Yusuf (as)’s reunion with his father, as he recounted: “And he raised his parents upon the throne, and they bowed to him in prostration. And he said, ‘O my father, this is the explanation of my vision of before. My Lord has made it a reality. And He was certainly good to me when He took me out of prison and brought you [here] from bedouin life after Satan had induced [estrangement] between me and my brothers. Indeed, my Lord is Subtle in what He wills. Indeed, it is He who is the Knowing, the Wise.’”
He then offered this du’a, expressing his gratitude to Allah: “My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty, and taught me the interpretation of dreams – the [only] Creator of the heavens and the earth!” He went on to urge the recitation of this du’a: “Anta waliyyee fid dunyaa wal Aakhirati tawaffanee muslimanw wa alhiqnee bissaaliheen,” which means, “You are my Wali [Protector, Helper, Supporter, Guardian] in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die as a Muslim and join me with the righteous.”
It is stated: “And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.”
At this point in his life, Yusuf (as) had achieved success by any standard. Yet, like all Prophets, he remained humble at the peak of his achievements, as evidenced by his words: “My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty.”
The highest form of character is to fulfill one’s duties without taking pride or arrogance in the outcome, for the result is in Allah’s hands. Detaching oneself from the outcome is an excellent attitude to adopt, as it fosters the resilience needed to keep moving forward and prevents us from taking losses personally.
The purpose of pursuing a goal should not be merely to achieve it, but to become the person one needs to be in order to attain it.
We must strive to emulate Yusuf (as) and avoid developing an inflated sense of self when we achieve any measure of success. Instead, we should praise Allah, for it is He who makes all things possible.
Imam Ali (ra) commented on this very topic: “Self-conceit poisons the mind; self-conceit impedes progress.” Once you believe you know everything, you close the door to new knowledge and growth.
Another testament to Yusuf (as)’s noble character is the tone of his du’a: “Cause me to die a Muslim and join me with the righteous.”
He speaks as if being righteous is a goal he aspires to attain, not something he has already achieved.
It is important to remember that he offered this du’a after enduring betrayal by his brothers, being sold into slavery, suffering false imprisonment, and working his way up to a position of influence. The journey of constant self-improvement—striving for more and becoming better—is endless, and it is clear that Yusuf (as) internalized this lesson deeply.
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